I have come to Kyiv on 18-20 November 2013 on behalf of European Commission’s President Barroso to discuss with President Yanukovych preparations of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius next week, including the signature of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. I also briefed the President on behalf of EU High Representative and Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton about the determination of the European Union to proceed with the signature of the Association Agreement, provided there is determined action and tangible progress in response to the benchmarks as set at the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of December 2012 and discussed at the FAC on 18 November 2013.

I appreciate the considerable progress which has been made during the last months in this regard. I am encouraged to see the determination of the President and of the Speaker of the Parliament Rybak in cooperation with all parliamentary factions to adopt key legislation on 21st November 2013 on parliamentary elections, a new law on the prosecutors general’s office and a new law on the medical treatment of prisoners abroad.

The EU’s commitment to bring EU Ukraine relations to a new quality, opening up new opportunities for the Ukrainian people, is firm. The door for such a qualitative step forward is open and we look forward to the government’s implementation of its decision of 18 September 2013 to sign the association agreement in Vilnius on 29 November 2013.

The EU and many of Ukraine’s partners around the globe look forward to such a key step which would confirm Ukraine’s strengthened role in the world and provide a signal of predictability for international financial markets and institutions in stabilizing Ukraine’s economy and finances.